6 - North Shore News - Wednesday, January 12, 2000 ECISIVE action is apparently not very high on the job description for Canada’s immi- gration minister. Judging by recent events it might not be there at all. Anybody but the stone deaf will know that Canadians across the land have been calling for meaningful changes to the country’s immigration and refugee laws for years. But, GSeyond the usual throat-clear- ing in Ottawa, not much has happened. The arrival last summer of illegal immigrants by the tramp fishboat-load te Canada’s west coast turned up the volume on citizen demands for change. But again not much happened. More recently revelations that inter- nationei terrorists favour Canada as a home base because of its lax immigra- tion policies have further upped that vohime on demands for immigration VIEW POIN n, El law changes. And the discovery of more Chinese migrants concealed in a shipping con- tainer aboard a freighter docking in Vancouver harbour underscores again the need for government action. Word has it that Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan is working with Chinese authorities to crack down on human smuggling. But there’s little value in pursuing measures abroad when the real prob- lem resides at home. Toughening Canada’s immigration laws so that at the very Icast illegal arrivals are detained until 2 decision on their status has been made and those who have been rejected are immediate- ly deported wili do far more to deter human smuggling to this country than any amount of high level government discussion. Wy FINANCIAL DISASTER, INCAPABLE OF OPERATING AT Fuie CAPACITY, UNRELIABLE, FILLED WiTH EMPTY PROMIEES AND WILD EXAGGERATIONS», (if (¢ 7, mailbox News missed real tennis centre story Dear Bditor: : . i : “Although we were repeatedly assured that the North Shore News would be doing a feature article on the Oct. 2: official opening of the Grant Connell Tennis Centre, nothing was published until Dec. 22. OF course by this late date it was old news, so: Bob Mackin’s article highlighted a wheelchair champion and .. the tennis coordinator. ; This is appreciated, but-the article failed to mention thar it took 12 years of hard work by dozens of dedicated “residents to make the. dream, a public tennis facility, , become a reality. _. At the official opening, North Vancouver’s born and -faised Grant Connell was.recognized, and Mayor Don “Bell credited the North Vancouver Tennis Society for its =. struggle and persistence in getting this centre. - The society contributed close’ to $100,000 in equip- -- ment and monies to the’ centre from its Cap West bubble -operation. : The society proved to the district council that this cen- ~ tre could generate a profit to repay a $500,000 loan from the Heritage Fund to cover the additional construction ‘COSTS. rr . '., The society signed a partnership agreement with the . North Vancouver Recreation Commission to oversee the centre’s operations and be advisory to the management. So the North Shore News missed the real story; that is, without the support of the society and the hundreds of ‘dedicated supporters we would not have such a great facil- ity to'serve the community and provide programs for all age groups, even for people confined to wheelchairs. Thanks to all those who have supported our endeav- ours, and-your continued membership support is impor- . tant if we are to achieve the objective of outdoor courts -adjacent to the centre. : : . Elmer Helm, president . North Vancouyer Tennis Society North Shore Rews, founded in 1968 as an independent suburban newspaper and quaified ‘under Schedule 111. Paragraah 111 of the . ‘Extise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday. Friday and Sunday by HCN Pubeations Company and destributed to ¢ ery do6r on the Hori Shore. Canada Post Canadan Pubscations. Tee ayers, NEWSPAPERS ee Distribution Manager S85-1337 (124) The Worth Shore News is published by Creative Seiviees Ditector $8S-213t (127) ‘61,582 (average ci:cutation, Weonesagy, Friday & Sunday} CANT THINK OF A MORE APPROPRIATE LEGACY FoR Hope yet for rebellious puifers BAD news and good news for those rebeilious puffers and pub- cepers vowing to fight the Workers Compensation Board ban on smoking in bars until victory is theirs. The bad news is, they can’t win. Never had a hope. Don’t get me wrong. My sympathy for the smokers is heartfelt. Nearly seven years ago I was still one of them -— a two-pack-a-day nicotine junkie for all of the 55 preceding years. I got down to serious puffing over my break- fast coffee and 15 hours later had stomped out 35 or more butts in the nearest ashtrays. Every day for 20,089 days or more. Oh yes, I can relate fully to today’s rebels. The reason they're iovrned to defeat, however, is purely a matter of numbers. In nicotine-stained Quebec they might have a fighting chance. But no way here in Lotusland where better than three out of four British Columbians are non- smokers -— and militant, too. In the ban’s first 48 hours the toll-free WCB “snitch line” fielded nearly 200 complaints about bars still reeking with blue carcinogens. Asked what differentiates pubs from our now smoke-frce stores, restaurants, airliners and sports facilities, the best Al Arbuthnot, president of the BC Liquor Retailers Association, could come up with was a plea that the pub environment is “different.” So the BCLRA, whose mem- mn Tae PETER SPECK © Prmmiorsae Publisher Huma: Resources Manager 2131 (101) 885-2131 (218) Photography Manager 985-2131 (160) Abo enssecdeateroncorencatonentoenesersersetses Classified Manager 986-6222 (202) Entire contenis © 1999 HCN Publications Company. Al! rights reserved. bers fear loss of business, wants to take the WCB to court in a bid to have the ban lifted or modified. But there’s little com- fort for pubkeepers in the Letrers-to-the- Editor sections of news- papers, which show widespread support for the new bylaw. As well, the loss-of- business argument is full of holes. If wue, how come smoke-free stares, restaurants and sports facilities still suffer no lack of customers — let alone airlines where, even on a 13-hour flight, stepping outside to puff is not an option? ; In fact, figures from California and Victoria — both with a similar year-old ban -— show lost smoking customers are soon replaced by new ones who'd hither- to valued their Jungs more than their beer. Nevertheless, all that being said, your scribe’s own nicotine-laden past still leads him to shed a few tears of sympathy for the temporary plight of today’s smoking and yon - bar patrons. Temporary, that is, because they'll either finally manage to quit the weed or (when snitched-on pubkeepers start fac- ing $4,000 fines) soon be forced outside to do their puffing. Where is the Charter when they need it? Time at last, then, for the good news from this born-again non-smoker. . The only little snag being that, after six failed attempts to quit over as many years, P’ve still no idea how it finally hap- pened, : : It was remarrying day. My beloved had accepted my smelly vice along with. <° my limited virtues. Dressing for the 2 p.m. date at the altar, I puffed away hap- . pily. Before heading for the church I. ° stutfed a new 20-pack in my pocket to |. enjoy at the reception. And then ... the - unfathomable mystery: ; I completely forgot about that new _ 20-pack. Our nuptial evening ends it still unopened. I can’t remember whom. I gave it to during the honeymoon days” -’ that followed. AIF knew vas that, while » . knotdng my wedding tie at-1 p.m., March 6, 1993, I'd unknowingly smoked my last cigarette. ee So take heart, you nicotine warriors, fighting to the death to defend the mal- odorous blue smog ! shared with you fo so long. Agreed, we can’t all quit by: remarrying. But clearly miracles can any WO still happen, especially if you've: wished for them hard enough. Bringing‘ nice bonuses, too. a wey Like restoring the delicious flavours 6: food. Like no more stinky clothes. Like never again being driven out into the yard to puff in the rain. And, oh yes, lik that extra $3,009 or so a year to spend in the pub, at the shopping mall, for honic' improvements, on exotic vacations even your RRSP! 0. » 0@QQ..: 23 HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes today, J: 12, to West Van Kiwanian Fred : Whitbread ... And more of the same. tomorrow, Jan..13, to his fellow Kiwanian Jack Wilks. . Jove oe G0Q ..- .* WRIGHT OF. WRONG: Give and for. get. Receive and remember. °° * -... —nwright@uniser LETTERS TO THE EDITOR =. * Letters must include your name, ~ full address & :elephone number. VIA e-mait: trenshaw@nsnews.com Display Advertising Manager * 980-0511 (317) Display & Real Estate Fax 905-1435 | | "5 Reweroom Fax: 585-2100 | Michool Bechor - Hews Editar ; 95-2031 (114).